[Blessed]

"Pat jumps the shark on this line. Hitler invaded France long before we entered WWII. And Hitler declared war on us before we declared war on him.<

No you are showing your lack of reading comprehension.England and France told Hitler they would not allow him to invade Poland.This was an indefensible position because they could not enforce it.By going to war over Poland it gave Hitler an excuse to invade Western Europe.This is a legitimate anaysis of the hisory.Some on Free Republic have become to quick to classify legitimate scholarship and analysis as "jumping the shark" based on their own lack of study.

[MEGoody]

"England and France told Hitler they would not allow him to invade Poland.This was an indefensible position because they could not enforce it.By going to war over Poland it gave Hitler an excuse to invade Western Europe."

Which, again, took place before the U.S. entered the war.

"legitimate scholarship and analysis"

Any legitimate scholarship and analysis would lead one to the conclusion that WWII had to be fought unless we all wanted to be speaking German and saying "Heil Hitler."

[Petronski]

This was an indefensible position because they could not enforce it.

France and Germany were quite capable of honoring their treaty obligations. The problem is that in September 1940, they did NOTHING.

[Petronski]

This was an indefensible position because they could not enforce it.

They were quite capable of honoring their treaty obligations. The problem is that in September 1940, they did NOTHING.

[Rembrandt_fan]

You wrote, "This was an indefensible position because they could not enforce it." in reference to the French and British treaty obligation to Poland. 'Enforcing' a treaty is ensuring all signatories to the treaty meet its terms. So I guess 'enforce' isn't exactly what you meant. To use the arrogant flame you posted to another, "You are showing your lack of reading comprehension."

France and Britain made the treaty to deter German aggression, to make Hitler think twice before going through with his plans for eastern expansion. The strategic consideration--that is, sending British and French armies across the breadth of Europe to literally defend Poland was not the rationale for the treaty. Thus, it was not an indefensible position. During the Cold War and even now, the US has nuclear missiles located throughout the world as a deterrence. Deterrence works. By your logic, the presence of those missiles is 'indefensible' simply because it would be impracticable to use them.